The Amazing Sony A1/A7/A9/APS-C & Anything else welcome Mega Thread!

snerkler said:
I'm having a bit of a love/hate relationship with the RX1R II.

What I love is the image quality, including the bokeh, and how small and light it is (although the size is also a negative)

I think a lof of the negatives are becasue we're spoilt now with how good modern cameras are, however here's the list:-

1. The small size means that it's not the most comfortable to use. Without a grip it feels as though I might drop it, but with the grip my knickles scrape the lens.
2. The lack of IBIS means that I have to be really careful. I'm used to not having to worry about camera shake, but I've had the odd shot show camera shake as high as 1/50 :eek:
3. The rear dial is too easy to press and rotate meaning that I've changed settings without realising it. I've now disabled a number of things from the dial and put them in the Fn menu instead, which is not ideal.
4. The shutter limit of 1/2000 at f2 is a pain. I've bought an ND filter but I don't want to me messing with that whilst I'm just out on walks. In good light I can just leave it on, but in dull light it's going to make me run into camera shake issues due to the lack of IBIS as mentioned.
5. The lack of BBF is annoying. There is kind of a workaround, but it's not 100%.


I appreciate these are first wolrd issues, but they do detract from the overall enjoyment. I'm past my window to return it so I'm going to have to just get used to the quirks, and as I said at the start the IQ is top notch.
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Are any of these issues addressed in the MK3 ?
 
trevorbray said:
Are any of these issues addressed in the MK3 ?
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The shutter speed goes 1 stop faster, and and 2 stops faster with the electronic shutter. The Mk3 is a no go for me due to the lack of tilt screen.

Part of me is regretting not going down the Fujfilm X100VI route tbh, but we make out choices and all that ;)
 
snerkler said:
4. The shutter limit of 1/2000 at f2 is a pain. I've bought an ND filter but I don't want to me messing with that whilst I'm just out on walks. In good light I can just leave it on, but in dull light it's going to make me run into camera shake issues due to the lack of IBIS as mentioned.


I appreciate these are first wolrd issues, but they do detract from the overall enjoyment. I'm past my window to return it so I'm going to have to just get used to the quirks, and as I said at the start the IQ is top notch.
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The ND on and off and on and off issue annoyed me no end with the Panasonic G1 which was limited to 1/4,000 and even 1/4,000 is a restriction when we want shallow depth and switching to the electronic shutter brings its own issues including having to do it manually.

snerkler said:
Part of me is regretting not going down the Fujfilm X100VI route tbh, but we make out choices and all that ;)
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Fuji have a lot of fans but according to some bloggers I tend to watch the focus issues although improved are still there and although some would never think of moving the focus ring themselves the action I experienced with the s and f was the worst I've had with any camera.

Having been out with the A7cII a couple of times now a couple of changes would make me not bother with anything else, up the mechanical shutter speed to 1/8,000 or at least enable automatic switching to the electronic shutter and fit a screen capable of tilting. Oh, and allow ISO 50 to be automatic when you hit 1/8,000.
 
woof woof said:
The ND on and off and on and off issue annoyed me no end with the Panasonic G1 which was limited to 1/4,000 and even 1/4,000 is a restriction when we want shallow depth and switching to the electronic shutter brings its own issues including having to do it manually.



Fuji have a lot of fans but according to some bloggers I tend to watch the focus issues although improved are still there and although some would never think of moving the focus ring themselves the action I experienced with the s and f was the worst I've had with any camera.

Having been out with the A7cII a couple of times now a couple of changes would make me not bother with anything else, up the mechanical shutter speed to 1/8,000 or at least enable automatic switching to the electronic shutter and fit a screen capable of tilting. Oh, and allow ISO 50 to be automatic when you hit 1/8,000.
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The AF of the RX1R II isn't the best, it does hunt when the light drops.
 
Isn't the RX1R II basically the same sensor from a A7R2 in a smaller body that came out in 2015.
 
snerkler said:
The shutter speed goes 1 stop faster, and and 2 stops faster with the electronic shutter. The Mk3 is a no go for me due to the lack of tilt screen.

Part of me is regretting not going down the Fujfilm X100VI route tbh, but we make out choices and all that ;)
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Toby, you know you would be moaning about the IQ of the X100VI, and then about X-Trans..... don't even go there, X-Trans cameras and Lab Coats are mutually exclusive.

There are very few players in this high end compact market and all have compromises, you just have to pick the one that p*sses you off the least!
 
Mr Perceptive said:
Toby, you know you would be moaning about the IQ of the X100VI, and then about X-Trans..... don't even go there, X-Trans cameras and Lab Coats are mutually exclusive.

There are very few players in this high end compact market and all have compromises, you just have to pick the one that p*sses you off the least!
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Sony with the RX1 and A7c ranges and their APS-C range and the Fuji X100 and X-E and other than that I think they're all evf less or SLR style. I can't think of anything else.

Used MFT is still an option for me because I have two but they dropped the GM5 and the slightly larger RF style cameras I have, GX80 and GX9. I think some Panasonic MFT cameras now use the same body as their FF cameras.
 
woof woof said:
Sony with the RX1 and A7c ranges and their APS-C range and the Fuji X100 and X-E and other than that I think they're all evf less or SLR style. I can't think of anything else.

Used MFT is still an option for me because I have two but they dropped the GM5 and the slightly larger RF style cameras I have, GX80 and GX9. I think some Panasonic MFT cameras now use the same body as their FF cameras.
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You'd have to include the Leica Q in 'premium compact' and probably the GFX100RF
 
Mr Perceptive said:
You'd have to include the Leica Q in 'premium compact' and probably the GFX100RF
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I have a problem spending that much on a camera and a problem understanding it when people complain about the price of the RX1R and then stretch the spend to the Q range. Good luck to those willing to spend that much.
 
sjh2008 said:
Isn't the RX1R II basically the same sensor from a A7R2 in a smaller body that came out in 2015.
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I think so
Mr Perceptive said:
Toby, you know you would be moaning about the IQ of the X100VI, and then about X-Trans..... don't even go there, X-Trans cameras and Lab Coats are mutually exclusive.

There are very few players in this high end compact market and all have compromises, you just have to pick the one that p*sses you off the least!
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I've been playing with some of the X100VI raw files and they seem to be just fine. I thought previously they weren't but realised they'd loaded with one of my presets for another camera :facepalm::ROFLMAO:
Faldrax said:
The problem is that different people want different things - so who do they listen to?
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For some though people complain about the same thing (y)
 
snerkler said:
I've been playing with some of the X100VI raw files and they seem to be just fine. I thought previously they weren't but realised they'd loaded with one of my presets for another camera :facepalm::ROFLMAO:
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If you’d known this before. Would you still have bought the Sony ?
 
trevorbray said:
If you’d known this before. Would you still have bought the Sony ?
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Possibly, it's a question I don't know if I'd be able to answer. I could try the Fuji and not like that :thinking:

One of the main draws of the Fuji is the film sims and just shooting SOOC jpegs, that was one of the main things I was looking at when I first started down the fixed lens compact route. Since I started doing photography I've played about with processing but never settled on something I'm happy with. I've constantly strived to get 'that film look' but to date have been unsuccesful. I must have 100's and 100's of presets over the years for Sony, Nikon and Olly. I already have 29 presets for the RX1R II :eek::headbang::runaway:

I got lured by the IQ and extra stop of subject isolation of the Sony, as well as the size and weight. I did breifly have hands on the original X100 and the whole 'cool retro thing' didn't wow me as much as I thought, and that camera really did feel like going back to the stone age in terms of performance. I'd like to try the X100VI, if only to get it out of my system.

I've just been out with the RX1R II and I've got another shot that looks like camera shake but it's at 1/100 so I'm wondering if it's missed focus rather than camera shake :thinking:

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Front not sharp, easier to see on the badge
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And then you can see the writing accentuates it. It was shot at f8 so everything should be sharp.
Screenshot 2025-09-15 at 18.39.52.jpg
 
snerkler said:
Possibly, it's a question I don't know if I'd be able to answer. I could try the Fuji and not like that :thinking:

One of the main draws of the Fuji is the film sims and just shooting SOOC jpegs, that was one of the main things I was looking at when I first started down the fixed lens compact route. Since I started doing photography I've played about with processing but never settled on something I'm happy with. I've constantly strived to get 'that film look' but to date have been unsuccesful. I must have 100's and 100's of presets over the years for Sony, Nikon and Olly. I already have 29 presets for the RX1R II :eek::headbang::runaway:

I got lured by the IQ and extra stop of subject isolation of the Sony, as well as the size and weight. I did breifly have hands on the original X100 and the whole 'cool retro thing' didn't wow me as much as I thought, and that camera really did feel like going back to the stone age in terms of performance. I'd like to try the X100VI, if only to get it out of my system.

I've just been out with the RX1R II and I've got another shot that looks like camera shake but it's at 1/100 so I'm wondering if it's missed focus rather than camera shake :thinking:

Full screen
View attachment 463137



Front not sharp, easier to see on the badge
View attachment 463138


And then you can see the writing accentuates it. It was shot at f8 so everything should be sharp.
View attachment 463139
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I'd go for missed focus on this one, given how sharp the F2 version is on your flickr, I would have expected the F8 image to be just as sharp.
 
snerkler said:
Possibly, it's a question I don't know if I'd be able to answer. I could try the Fuji and not like that :thinking:

One of the main draws of the Fuji is the film sims and just shooting SOOC jpegs, that was one of the main things I was looking at when I first started down the fixed lens compact route. Since I started doing photography I've played about with processing but never settled on something I'm happy with. I've constantly strived to get 'that film look' but to date have been unsuccesful. I must have 100's and 100's of presets over the years for Sony, Nikon and Olly. I already have 29 presets for the RX1R II :eek::headbang::runaway:

I got lured by the IQ and extra stop of subject isolation of the Sony, as well as the size and weight. I did breifly have hands on the original X100 and the whole 'cool retro thing' didn't wow me as much as I thought, and that camera really did feel like going back to the stone age in terms of performance. I'd like to try the X100VI, if only to get it out of my system.

I've just been out with the RX1R II and I've got another shot that looks like camera shake but it's at 1/100 so I'm wondering if it's missed focus rather than camera shake :thinking:

Full screen
View attachment 463137



Front not sharp, easier to see on the badge
View attachment 463138


And then you can see the writing accentuates it. It was shot at f8 so everything should be sharp.
View attachment 463139
Click to expand...

I think I'd be tempted to say camera shake of some description - I can't see anything else in the frame that it could be focused on. Unless you managed to click the shutter as it was hunting and you caught it focused too close to the camera or something. Does it employ some different focus system when it's stopped down or anything like that?
 
LeeRatters said:
I think I'd be tempted to say camera shake of some description - I can't see anything else in the frame that it could be focused on. Unless you managed to click the shutter as it was hunting and you caught it focused too close to the camera or something. Does it employ some different focus system when it's stopped down or anything like that?
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Yes but contrast detect AF can stuggle on uniform colour surfaces
 
snerkler said:
Possibly, it's a question I don't know if I'd be able to answer. I could try the Fuji and not like that :thinking:

One of the main draws of the Fuji is the film sims and just shooting SOOC jpegs, that was one of the main things I was looking at when I first started down the fixed lens compact route. Since I started doing photography I've played about with processing but never settled on something I'm happy with. I've constantly strived to get 'that film look' but to date have been unsuccesful. I must have 100's and 100's of presets over the years for Sony, Nikon and Olly. I already have 29 presets for the RX1R II :eek::headbang::runaway:

I got lured by the IQ and extra stop of subject isolation of the Sony, as well as the size and weight. I did breifly have hands on the original X100 and the whole 'cool retro thing' didn't wow me as much as I thought, and that camera really did feel like going back to the stone age in terms of performance. I'd like to try the X100VI, if only to get it out of my system.

I've just been out with the RX1R II and I've got another shot that looks like camera shake but it's at 1/100 so I'm wondering if it's missed focus rather than camera shake :thinking:

Full screen
View attachment 463137



Front not sharp, easier to see on the badge
View attachment 463138


And then you can see the writing accentuates it. It was shot at f8 so everything should be sharp.
View attachment 463139
Click to expand...

29 presets already!! :oops: :$ :ROFLMAO: Jeeeeez.....

I think you should try an X100vi - in black please, with a thumb grip :)
 
An X100 is a perfect companion for a Sony system. By almost every technical measure it's worse than almost every e-mount camera. But it's oh so fun to shoot and as that's why I shoot that matters.
 
LeeRatters said:
I think I'd be tempted to say camera shake of some description - I can't see anything else in the frame that it could be focused on. Unless you managed to click the shutter as it was hunting and you caught it focused too close to the camera or something. Does it employ some different focus system when it's stopped down or anything like that?
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It does look more like camera shake to me, but at 1/100 I can't see why. Also, I wouldn't expect shutter shock from a leaf shutter :thinking:
Mr Perceptive said:
Yes but contrast detect AF can stuggle on uniform colour surfaces
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The RX1R II is hybrid AF, plus I've had similar results shoting buildings which are not uniform
LeeRatters said:
29 presets already!! :oops: :$ :ROFLMAO: Jeeeeez.....

I think you should try an X100vi - in black please, with a thumb grip :)
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Yeah crazy, I jsut can't settle on a preset I'm happy with :help:

It'd have to be Silver ;)
 
Mr Perceptive said:
That’s because the light changes from shot to shot, IMO different lighting can require different tweaks
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It can, but the 'style' should be consistent, I'm yet to find a style that I'm happy with :facepalm:
 
Don't suppose anyone will be interested, just advertised a Panny GX9 for sale.

Just a few from a short walk today, just getting use to the A7cII, here with the Sony 40mm f2.5.

I do wish the council hadn't cut everything back and paved all this. we're plagued with balaclava wearing off road and probably stolen motorbikes now.

If you carry on down this path you come out maybe 100m from where I was born.

1-DSC00407.jpg

Lots of brambles arrived early this year but I'd say these are late. I might have picked some but I didn't have a bag.

1-DSC00413.jpg

Flower power.

1-DSC00412.jpg

A big crop from that one.

1-DSC00412-C.jpg
 
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snerkler said:
A few from the Cotswold Wildlife Park, it's the first wildlife park we've been to that accepts dogs, Betty had a great time :love:

1.

A1_05006 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

2.

A1_05092 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

3.

A1_05200-2 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

4.

A1_05325 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

5.

A1_05341-2 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

6.

A1_05433 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

7.

A1_05716 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

8.

A1_06026 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr
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this is already on my list to visit for same reasons
 
I’ve just found out Fuji do a try before you buy scheme :naughty:
 
snerkler said:
I’ve just found out Fuji do a try before you buy scheme :naughty:
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yes i have loaned a GFX100s. if you loan over long holidays like easter or Christmas you get to keep it longer for free ;)
(but they do "sell out" quicker over holiday periods for this reason)
but you might need a credit card with a huge credit limit or may be that's because GFX is expensive
 
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nandbytes said:
yes i have loaned a GFX100s. if you loan over long holidays like easter or Christmas you get to keep it longer for free ;)
(but they do "sell out" quicker over holiday periods for this reason)
but you might need a credit card with a huge credit limit or may be that's because GFX is expensive
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£750 refundable deposit on the X100VI, I’ve ordered it for the middle of next month, the earliest availability on a Wednesday, my day off.

Hopefully that will get it out of my system ;) I had a much better user experience with the RX1 today after deleting functions off the rear dial (as they were too easily knocked) and setting minimum shutter to “standard” rather than “slow”. I did run into shutter speed issues at f2 again today though.
 
I've been asked to shoot a gig at a small venue (indoor, evening). It will be professionally lit, but it will be my first time shooting in this environment.
I have an A9ii and was wondering which lens you would advise? I have the 70-200 f2.8, but looking to hire a smaller lens to use.
I'm looking at the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 or maybe Sony FE 85mm f1.4 G Master II or Sony FE 55mm f1.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T?
I'm guessing that my FE f4 20-70mm G lens won't be suitable?

Any thoughts?

​

 
percyp said:
I've been asked to shoot a gig at a small venue (indoor, evening). It will be professionally lit, but it will be my first time shooting in this environment.
I have an A9ii and was wondering which lens you would advise? I have the 70-200 f2.8, but looking to hire a smaller lens to use.
I'm looking at the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 or maybe Sony FE 85mm f1.4 G Master II or Sony FE 55mm f1.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T?
I'm guessing that my FE f4 20-70mm G lens won't be suitable?

Any thoughts?

​

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With the ISO handling of the modern cameras I would have thought you may be OK with f/4 if you already have the lens - if you are unfamiliar with shooting at the venue the flexibility of a zoom might be useful to avoid picking a prime that's the wrong focal length.
Any chance you can get in to the venue for a gig before the one you are shooting to take a few test shots so see if you'd be OK?
 
percyp said:
I've been asked to shoot a gig at a small venue (indoor, evening). It will be professionally lit, but it will be my first time shooting in this environment.
I have an A9ii and was wondering which lens you would advise? I have the 70-200 f2.8, but looking to hire a smaller lens to use.
I'm looking at the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 or maybe Sony FE 85mm f1.4 G Master II or Sony FE 55mm f1.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T?
I'm guessing that my FE f4 20-70mm G lens won't be suitable?

Any thoughts?

​

Click to expand...
How small is small, and how close will you be to the performers? I'd have thought that 70-200mm would be too long, 35mm might be more suitable. I've seen a number of people shooting UWA at small venues such as the 16-35mm f2.8. I personally wouldn't go any smaller aperture than f2.8 unless you can use (bounced) flash.

I've not done any gigs but there was a live band at the wedding I shot last year and the 35mm f1.4 was my lens of choice.
 
It's Stage 2 at The Stables near MK (if you know it) - seats 80. I can be as close, or as far away, as I like - as long as I don't block sightlines. So will probably shoot mostly from either side of the stage and the back of the room. I'll be there for the soundcheck to get up close to each band member,
 
percyp said:
It's Stage 2 at The Stables near MK (if you know it) - seats 80. I can be as close, or as far away, as I like - as long as I don't block sightlines. So will probably shoot mostly from either side of the stage and the back of the room. I'll be there for the soundcheck to get up close to each band member,
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Decades ago I used to shoot at gigs both for fun and at the request of the band and my input to this is... Be prepared to be nice and polite no matter how drunk argumentative, unreasonable or provocative someone is. Have your polite answers ready, "The band asked me to shoot this" "Sorry mate, I'll move and get out of your way. Have a great night" etc etc. Be prepared to shoot quick and move to avoid problem people who think you're in their way / sightline when you're on the other side of the room or behind them. Oh, and don't put anything down and expect it to be there 2 seconds later. That may not be the experience of others, I might have just been with rowdy people. Have fun.

PS.
Taking some pictures with motion blur might be an idea.
 
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I'd be tempted to hire the 28-70 F2.
 
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